Apparatus for protection against fire



Sept. 13, 1932. 'E. TYDEN v 1,877,088

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE Filed June so. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, 1932. E, 1,877,088

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE Filed June 50, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 five]? for Z/YZJZ j azz.

85 zgzioz ze s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMIL TYD'EN, or HASTINGS, MICHIGAN AIPARATUS Fort PROTECTION AGAlZNST'FIRE Application filed June 30,

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for protection of building structures against lire, adapted for causing normally closed water discharge heads in a given protected area to be opened for water dischargesimultaneously under the control of temperature-responsive means locatedat a position in the protected area or inrelation thereto selected for probability of lire gases or hot currents due to fire in the apartment or its vicinity reaching and affecting the temperature-responsive devices most promptly after, the fire starts.

It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic'view of tliegeneral character of an elevation of a vfire extinguishing building equipment, showing certain parts of the structure in relatively exaggerated section. c Figure 2 is a vertical section of a thermostatically controlled pressure controlling device employed'in connection with this inven-' tion.

' Figure 3 is a section at the line 33 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail section at the line 4: -4Z on Figure 2. I

Figure 5 18 a section at the line 5-5 on Figure 1. Figure Figure 5.

igure 7 is a section at the line "Figure 1. '7

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are detail sectional views of a valve controlling the air pressure for operating the discharge heads at three positions of adjustment of-said-valve. Outlining the in vention in general in ad vance of description in detail, it -may be, noted that the drawings show in the build ing tobe protected, a water pipe system consisting of a water supply main leading 6 is a section at the line 6- 6 on particularly 1930. 'Serial No. 464,938.

to a main valve of the system which may be understood to be either a dry pipe or a wet tpipevalve, from which the discharge line extends up through the apartment to be f protected, and therein to aservice pipe line system equipped in the protected apartment with a plurality of normally closed water discharge heads which-are arranged to'be' operated for opening by. mechanical means, such mechanical means being associated with said closed discharge heads and connected for operating them individually. These me chanically operated devices are constructed for being actuated by fluid pressure, and are ill connected with a fluid pressure operating 59 me. When the ,ystem is ofthe dry pipe type, the pressure for the operating line may be derived from the main delivery line of the system, or it may be derived directly from 55 theair pressure source from which air pressure region of the system derives air pressure by which the main water supply valve is held closed in the normal set up of the system; but in a wet pipe system it is pref- 7o 'erable not to utilize the water supply pressure for the operating line because in that case the thermostatically ,operated valve which controls the admission of the operating pressure to the operating line, that'line 76 beyond said valve, and the discharge-headoperating devices will all be filled with water when the discharge heads are opened by the control ofthe temperature-responsive device and the constr'uction'of these parts for clear- 80 ingthem of the water, would make them expensive beside'involving a. large amount of work in clearing. them of water. i

Accordingly in the construction shown, the

pressureconnections are arranged so that if the systemlis ofthe dry pipe type, the operating :line to the thermostatically controlled valve and by way of that valve when opened by the thermostatic device to the discharge headoperating devices, may derive pressure Q6 from the main delivery line; or if preferred, may derive pressure directly from the air pressure source. But if the system is of the wet pipe type, the pressure for the operating line shall be derived directly from the air pressure source. This is accomplished in the construction shown by extending from the pressure source, indicated by a compressed air tank, a pipe line to the operating line controlling valve, and extending from said pipe line a branch to the main delivery line, with a three-way valve at the junction of the branch with the first mentioned air pressure line, which may be set for admitting the pressure from the pressure source to the main delivery line for initially charging'the air pressure region of the dry pipe system, and may then be set for cutting ofi communication between the pressure source and the'main delivery line and opening communication from the main delivery line to the operating-line-controlling valve, or may be set for cutting off communication of the main delivery line both with the pressure source and with the operating-linecontrolling valve and opening communication only directly from the pressure source to said last mentioned valve.

Referring to the drawings in detail: The water supply pipe is seen at 10, and the main valve,whether of the dry pipe or wet pipe type,is shown at 11. The waterdelivery line is shown at 12, the service pipe line system in the apartment protected is indicated at 13, with mechanically operated discharge heads shown at 14, and automatic discharge heads shown at 15, meaning by automatic discharge heads, the familiar type arranged to be opened individually by fusion of their closure-securing element due to the temperature to which they are individually exposed.

Mechanical operating devices for opening the mechanically operated discharge heads, 14:, indicated at 18, and seen in detail in Figure 5, are connected for their operation with the operating line 20. For controlling the admission of operating pressure to the operating line there is provided at suitable position for cooperating with a temperature-responsive device suitably located in the protected area, a valve fitting which will now be described. 1

This fitting, 50, is formed with inflow and outflow passages, 51 and 52, the inflow passage turning upwardly as seen at 53, to a port, 54, opening in the valve chamber, 55, formed by a hood member, 56, which is mounted fluidti ht on the body of the fitting, as indicated, by a packing gasket, 57, the hood bein clamped to the body of the fitting by a yoke, 58,in a manner readily understood. The port, 5%, is encompassed by the valve seat, 59, forthe valve, 60, which is held to its seat by a displaceable strut, 61, stepped at its lower end on the valve and stopped at its upper: end in the counter-sunk end of an adjustable screw, 68, which is set through the top of the hood.

The strut is made displaceable preferably by being made easily frangible, as indicated by the reduction in diameter at about the middle point of its length, as indicated at 65, and having extended from the lower part below the breaking point thus indicated, a lever arm, 66, which is extended into normal contact with a flexible or otherwise slightly movable portion of the wall of the hood, indicated at 67. This flexible wall portion is exteriorly exposed opposite the end of the lever arm in the path of swing of the weighted lever, hereinafter describedas constituting the operating element of the temperature-responsive device.

At the inflow-passage, 51, there is connected the pressure line, 21, leading from an air pressure source, indicated by a compressed air tank, 22, and for utilizing the main eliv ry line, 12, in the connection as seen in Figure 1, when the system is dry pipe this air pressure line is connected by a branch, 23, tothe maindelivery line, 12, with a three-way valve, 25, at the junction of said branch with the main air pressure line. This valve is arranged for three positions shown respectively in Figures 8, 9, and 10.

in Figure 8 the valve is set for charging the main delivery line with air pressure when the system is of the dry pipe type. ln'lligure 9 the valve is set for communicating air pressure to the operating line from the main delivery line, and not directly from the air pressure source. In FigurelO the valve is st for cutting off air pressure from the main delivery line and communicating the operating pressure directly from the air pressure source to the operating line under the control of the thermostatically controlled valve,

It may be understood that the main valve indicated at 11 is of any common type either for dry pipe or wet pipe system having the valve member. arranged to be opened by the water pressure and held seated by fluid pres sure in the delivery line due to all outlets for discharge from the delivery line being closed, whether that pressure he that of the water occupying the line or of the compressed air derived from the. compressed air tank, 22.

The temperature-responsive device, which is the subject of my co-pending application Serial No. 464,946, filed June 30, 1930 will be here described only in general terms.

It is of the type sometimes defined as a rate of rise thermostatic, being a construc tion adapted to respond by movement of a movable part to rapid change of temperature affecting it, but not to respond, for any thermost tic function, to slow change oftemperature. It comprises two metal bars, I and J, mounted side by side in a housing, H and held fixed one end, the bar, I, being of relatively large dial ieter, and the bar, J, being relatively slender, so that upon exposure Lie to slow change of temperature, the two'bars will elongate at the same rate, but upon exposure to rapid change of temperature the slender bar will elongate to a very substantial-extent beforethe heavier bar will show any appreciable elongation. Both rods are made fast at one end in a head plate, h of the housing,I-I. The housing has mounted in .it at the other end a bracket member, K,

formed with a web, k, which constitutes the head plate of the housingat that end. The

bracket, K, constitutes the support for the fitting, 50, above described, and asshown,

may be" understood to be integral with that fitting; The bracket is extended for affording pivotal support, as indicated at for a weighted lever, 101, which extends upwardnose, 100, which engages a-catch, 101 carried by the lever, 101. Advantage is taken of the relative change of position of the free ends of the two bars due to the elongation of the one bar in the absence of elongation of the other, to operate the latch,100, to release the weighted lever, 101,

permitting the weight to fall and encounter the flexible wall member of the valve chamber, as above described. r

Upon considering the construction of the temperature-responsive device "and the construction and operation 'of the valve controlling access of fluid pressure to the operating line, it may :be understood that upon dangerous temperature affecting the temperature-responsive device, the mechanical devices for operating the normally closed discharge heads will be operated for opening the latter throughout the entire service pipe line system, ancillary. to which the operating line extends. The construction of the mechanical devices for operating the discharge heads will now be described.

Referring to Figure 5,'it will be understood thatthe discharge heads indicated in entirety by numeral, 1 1, andthe mechanical devices for operating them for opening, constitute what maybe regarded as a unitary structure,which comprises the pipe coupling in the service line in which the discharge head is mounted. This pipe coupling, 70, has a suitable boss, 71, into which the discharge head, 72, is screwed. The discharge head is formed with a yoke, 7 3, overhanging the discharge port, 74, at which port the valve, 75, is seated, being held to its seat by a strut, 7 6, stepped at its lower end on the valve and stopped at its upper end in the counter-sunk end of an adjusting screw, 77, which serves also to secure the spreader cap, 78, of-the discharge head; The strut, 76, is rendered dise- 96, and having a stem member, 97, furnished accommodate the spring, serves for the diaphragm inwardly, the diaphragm thus constituting a movable wall of the 'placeable by beingrbreakable, as indicated by the reduction in diameter, seen at 79, and

below thisreduction the strut is furnished with a lever arm, 80, which being actuated upwardly or downwardly (referring to Figure 5) will break the strut. For such actuation of the lever arm, it is connected with'the mechanically operated device which will now "be described. 7

This'mechanically operated device indicated in its entirety by reference character, 90, is a chambered fitting mounted by means of a stem, 91, on the pipe coupling member,

70, which for. that purpose has a laterally projecting boss, 70 to which the member, 90, is firmly clamped by a bolt, 92. The cav ity of the member, 90, is upwardly open and closed by a flexible diaphragm, 95, clamped in place for so closing the cavity, by a plug,

at its inner end with a head, 97 for bearing on the diaphragm, the stem extending through said plug for engagement with the end of the lever arm, 80. A coil spring, 99, reacting between the diaphragm, 95, and a downwardly facing shoulder, 96 formed in the cap, 96, by counterboring the aperture through which the stem, 92, protrudes to holding cavity in the member, 90, which may be thus referred to as an expansible and reducible chamber. Communicating with this A chamber, and in fact forming a part of it, is a bore, which extends through a boss, 90, projecting laterally from the member, 90, and serving for the connection of the operating line with the expansible and reducible chamber of said member, 90.

Upon considering this construction it may be understood that by construction and assemblage, the valve, 75, is held seated, controlling discharge from the discharge head, with the lever arm, 80, extending normally toits connection with the stem of the diaphragrnwhich constitutes themovable wall of thevariable capacity chamber, with that diaphragm at the position of reduced capac- N ity-of said chamber. 7

And it will be seen that upon the. ad1nission of pressure to the operating line, 20, by

the opening of the valve, 60, under the control of the temperature-responsive device the variable capacity chamber is enlarged, the diaphragm being flexed outwardly, causing the lever arm, 80, to break the strut, 76, releasing the valve, 7 5, for discharge of the water already under pressure in the service pipe line system.

It will be noted that adjacent to each of the normally closed mechanically operable discharge heads, 14', there is installed in the service pipe line, a companion normally closed discharge head, 15, which may be pipe line understood from Figure 7,to be of the automatic type, that is, adapted to be opened by the fusing of the link, 15, which holds the two members of the strut in extended posimore of these normally closed automatically opening discharge heads will be opened by fusion, as described.

The opening of any one or more of these automatic discharge heads will vent the air pressure from the line, with the advantage that when at a later moment the mechanically operated discharge heads are opened under the control of the temperature-responsive device which controls the entire system of mechanically operated heads, the water having already occupied the line upon the venting of the air pressure therefrom by the opening of one or more of the automatic discharge heads, will be discharged instantly from the mechanically operated heads when they are openec. throughout the entire protected area. It will be understood that after operation in the manner described for fire extinguishment, the tire being extinguished and the water being shut otl' by the usual shut-oft valve not shown) the system will be drained in the usual manner and reset in the usual manner,

With somewhat similar advantage, there may be provided, as shown in Figure 1, either in the same apartment and co-eXtensive with the line in which the mechanically operated discharge heads are contained, or in adjacent area somewhat less hazardous, a second service pipe line system, 110, having normally closed water discharge heads of the automatic type. This pipe line, 110, being arranged as extension of the line, 13, in which the mechanically operated discharge heads are contained, serves for venting the air pressure from the entire service line sys tem upon the opening of one of the automatically opening discharge heads of said system, 110, in the same manner as by the ope ng of any one of the automatic discharge heads, 15, of the first mention-ed line.

By this means when the fire occurs at any part of the area protected by either of the systems so remote from the tem perature-responsive device that the latter is not promptly affected by the fire 'ases, the

n ciency or the mechanically operated heads for extinguishing the fire when eventually they are all opened simultaneously by the o eration of the temperature-responsive device, is very greatly increased by the previous venting of the air pressure from the system, so that water is immediately delivered from all the mechanically opened heads when the fire gases eventually reach the temperature-responsive device to cause it to operate.

1 claim:

1. A water discharge head for a fire 6X- tinguishing apparatus comprising a discharge fitting having a discharge port and arranged to be attached to a water delivery pipe of the apparatus and having a yoke spanning the discharge port of the fitting; aclosure for the discharge port and a strut extending between the closure and the head of the yoke, said strut being frangible and having a transversely extending lever arm arranged for applying breaking stress to the strut; a variable capacity chamber having a movable wall member by whose movement the chamber capacity is enlarged and reduced, said chamber being carried by the i ater pipe adjacent the discharge fitting and having its movable wall member operatively connected with the lever arm of the strut, the chamber being arranged for connection with a source of fluid pressure for operating the movable wall member to cause it to actuate the lever arm for breaking the strut to release the closure when fluid pressure is ad- 195 arm of the strut.

3. A water discharge head for a-fire extinguishing apparatus arranged for connection to a water delivery pipe of the apparatus comprising in combination a fitting arranged to be interposed in the water delivery pipe and having mounted upon it a discharge member with a yoke spanning the discharge port, aclosure for the discharge port, and a strut extending between the closure and the head of the yoke, said strut being frangible and having a transversely extending lever arm for applying breaking stress to the strut; a member mounted in the fitting containing a variable capacity chamber having a movable wall member by whose movement the chamber capacity is enlarged and reduced, and operating connections between said wall memher and the strut lever arm, said variable capacity chamber being arranged for connection with a source of fiuid pressure.

4. In a fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a service pipe system in the apartment to be protected with water discharge heads carried by the pipe system, each of said discharge ,heads having a valve seating against the discharge pressure, and a displaceable strut positioned for holding the valve seated; a fluid ressure line extending adjacent the pipes of the service pipe system and having adjacent the discharge heads respectively, fluid-pressure-operated means with connections for mechanically actuating the strut for displacement thereof to open the discharge head; valve means controlling fluid pressure access to the fluid pressureline, and a temperature-responsive device for opening the valve in the fluid pressure line upon predetermined temperature conditions eflecting said temperature-responsive devlce.

5. In the construction defined in claim 4, the fluid-pressure-operated means consisting of a variable capacity chamber communicating with the fluid pressure conduit and hav ing a movable wall member by whose movement the chamber capacity is increased and reduced, spring reacting on the movable wall member for stressing it inwardly against the fluid pressure, and a thrust member operatively associated with said wall member for thrust outwardly thereby in the chamber-expanding movement of the wall member, and operating connections from said thrust member for displacing the strut.

6. In a, system for protecting buildings against fire, a service pipe line in the protected area equipped with normally closed water discharge heads arranged to be opened mechanically for water discharge; means for such mechanical operation associated with each discharge head, said operating means being constructed for operation by fluid pressure; a source of fluid pressure and an operating line therefrom to said pressure-operated means; a valve in said pressure line controlling access of pressure therethrough to said operating means, and a temperature-responsive device in the protected area operatively associated with said valve for opening the same to cause the actuation of said operating means upon predetermined temperature conditions affecting said temperature-responsive device.

7. A water discharge head for a fire eX- tinguishing apparatus having a discharge controlling valve arranged to be opened by the water pressure, and a displaceable strut holding the valve seated; an arm carried by the strut extending therefrom for encounter by operating means to move it for displacing the strut; a fluid-pressure pipe line arranged for connection with a source of fluid pressure and having proximate the discharge head, means operated by the pressure in the line for encountering the strut arm for displacing the strut to open the discharge controlling valve when the fluid pressure is admitted to the-fluidpressure line.

8 In the construction displaceable by breaking, the arm being asdefined in claim the displaceable strut being frangible and sociatedtherewith for breaking the strut in i the; movement, of the arm by thepressureoperated, means, of the fluid-pressure line.

9. In-the construction defined in claim 7, I

the :fluid-pressure-operated means consisting ofa variable capacity chamber communicati ing with the fluid-pressure conduit and having a movable wall, member by whose movement the chamber capacity is increased and reduced, a spring reacting on the movable wall member for stressing it inwardly against the pressure, and a thrust member operatively associated with said wall member for thrust outwardly in the chamber-expanding movement of the wall member, and operating connections from said thrust member for displacing the strut.

10. In an a paratus for protecting buildings against re, a service pipe line system in the protected area equipped with normally closed water discharge heads arranged to be opened mechanically for water discharge; means for such mechanical operation associated with each discharge head, said operating means being constructed for operation by fluid pressure; a source of fluid pressure and an operating line therefrom to said pressure-operated means; a valve in said pressure line controlling access of pressure therethrough to said operating means, and a temperature-responsive device in the protected area operatively associated with said valve for opening the same to cause the actuation of said operating means upon predetermined temperature conditions afiecting said temperature-responsive device.

11. In the construction defined in claim 10, the apparatus being of the dry pipe type in which the pressure normally in the pipe lines of the system is air pressure, the service line system having other water discharge heads constructed for being individually opened automatically by fire heat affecting said heads respectively; whereby upon the automatic opening of any one of said automatically operated heads venting the air pressure of the system and admitting the water pressure, the water is admitted to all the closed heads, including those arranged to be mechanically opened.

12. In the construction defined in claim 10, the apparatus being of the dry pipe type in which the pressure normally in the pipe tion of fire heat affecting them individually, whereby when the mechanically operated heads are opened through the control of the temperature-responsive device, the air pressure belng vented from the automatically operated closed heads of the extension, and Water is admitted to said closed heads ready for instant discharge upon the automatic open- H ing of said heads in the system extension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set this 28th day EMIL TYDEN.

my hand at Chicago, Illinois, of May, 1930. 

